/sci/ - Science & Math

i don't know much about electricity outside of what i learned in physics, and DC wiring of car stereos.

i'm trying to make a heating mantle of a particular shape, and heating mantles are expensive for what i perceive to be a very simple device, from documentation i've read.
would pic related be safe to do? if not, why?

i plan on stripping a 3 prong grounded wire, and wiring the neutral and hot wires to a bare resistance wire (nichrome). this is woven through a fiberglass sheet, like a basket. i'll probably put an extra layer above and below to minimizing the risk of short circuits. this basket is surrounded with glass wool, and sits in an aluminum container. i'll take the ground wire and attach it to the outer wall of the aluminum with a bolt.

my understanding is that this is safe, so long as the ground is high quality. like, even if i shorted the heating wire directly to the aluminum container, i could touch the container with my bare hands and not be in danger, because the ground is a preferable return path.

additionally, what happens if i were to get this wet, like, what if a container full of water shatters in the mantle? would this be safe, because of the grounding? if i filled it with water and stuck my hand inside, would i be electrocuted?

this seems to match the construction of older "glascol" mantle designs, though some of those do not even have a grounded exterior.

would it be useful to install a GFCI between the mantle and the variac? what about mineral insulated heating cable?

i am not confident enough working with AC power, and i want to avoid killing myself or burning my house down, but, this seems very simple from the patents i've read.